Part One
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DIVINE ENCOUNTER

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TOPIC: THE SIGNS OF THE LAST DAYS TEXT: 2TIM. 3:1

PART 1

ESCHATOLOGY - A WORD FOR PROPHETIC EVENTS

            Looking at the Scriptures, you will find passages like" And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which stall befall you IN THE LAST DAYS" Gen.49.1. And it stall come to pass IN THE LAST DAYS" Acts 2:17 "...before that great and notable DAY of the Lord come" Acts 2:20 . "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the LATTER TIMES some stall depart from the faith..." 1Tim.4:1. "This know also, that in the LAST DAYS perilous times stall come" 2Tim.3:1. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in THESE LAST DAYS spoken to us by His Son" Heb.1:1-2. "Little children, it is the LAST TIME: and as ye have heard that antichrist stall come even now are there many antichrist: whereby we know that it is the LAST TIME" 1Jn.2:18.

            The point is, what can we make of these statements? Do- they mean the same thing, i.e. events that are to take place at a specific point in time as the globe called earth, supposedly comes to an end? Are the signs associated with the passages the same? Does the word `last times' or `last days' speak of definite times or seasons, or does it relate only to that which is to come in the future? These and many more questions we tope to answer as we progress in this study.  

THE MODERN PREACHER AND HIS PROBLEM WITH ESCHATOLOGY  

            The most unfortunate thing that one can say has happened to Christendom is the wrong interpretation that has been ascribed to the word `Eschatology' which to the modern preacher is the study of END TIME EVENTS. This, to the uninformed Rapture preacher in particular, is nothing more than "wars and rumors of wars: `famine' etc most especially as is found in Math.24: without realizing that the signs there were prophetic of the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the manifold evidence of the presence (parousia) of Christ. (Please request for our Study on The Sign of Christ's Conning). So you see, looking at Eschatology in the light of the events of Matt.24 and related passages is too restrictive a definition. In the words of Lewis Sperry Chafer "...the last major division of systematic theology, is concerned with things to come, and should not be limited to things which are future at some particular time in human history, but should contemplate all that was future in character at the time its revelation was given.... A worthy eschatology must employ all predictions whether fulfilled or unfulfilled at a given time. In otter words a true eschatology attempts to account for all the prophesy set forth in the Bible" (Lewis S. Chafer, Systematic Theology IV, P.255). Evidently, we can see that it is not just a matter of the so called events of the second coming of Christ and the `end of the world'. But eschatology can be realized on the individual level. It could be fulfilled prophecies like the establishment of the Kingdom of God through the death, resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, which were prophecies in time past. It can be seen in relation to the OT in the application of the word "the day of the Lord" (Amos 5:18-20) which actually speaks of divine judgment, especially upon Gods' people contrary to their thoughts of peace and joy that the day ought to bring to them. They ought to have known His will but become negligent of their duty to walk in obedience, It can be realized in the coming, teachings and the accomplishment of the work of Christ as it relates to humanity and His PRESENCE (Parousia) (Matt.24:3) And the coming - presence of Christ is not a matter of a future event. For in the words of John, A. T. Robinson the "Coming - presence" (Parousia) of Christ should not be seen as future events, but as a symbolical mythological presentation of "...what must happen, and is happening already, whenever the Christ comes in love and power, whenever are to be traced the signs of His presence, wherever to be seen the marks of His cross. `Judgement DAY' is a dramatized idealized picture of everyday" (His in the end... Clarke, London , 1950 Pg. 69). Again I will quote the words of Robinson. "...Did Jesus ever use language which suggested that He would return to earth from heaven? A critical examination of the data leads him to answer `NO'. Jesus' sayings on the subject really express the twin themes of vindication and visitation. e.g. His reply to the high priest's question whether or not He was the Messiah (Mark 14:62+): `1 am: and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power: and coming with the clouds of heaven'. In Math 26:64 and Lk.22:69 a word or phrase meaning from now on' or 'hereafter' is inserted before `you will see"' (Jesus and His coming - S.C.M., London 1957). Robinson takes this to be a genuine part of the reply. It must be understood that Jesus based these words of His on Ps. 110:1 and Dan.7:13 which declares that the Son of man, though condemned by His earthly judges will be vindicated (justified) in the court of God. In the same vein, we have other sayings of Jesus in the Gospel where the coming of the Son of man betokens a visitation in judgment, which will be set in motion by His rejection e.g. Lk12:40: Math 10:23, Lk.18:8. This visitation in Judgment will take place "from now on" as surely as the "vindication". In his words "At an early period in Church history, the perspective was changed. While Christians continue to think of Jesus' vindication as following immediately upon His death and resurrection, they postponed. His visitation to a future day" (Baker's Dictionary of theology Pg.190-191). So we can see clearly that the parousia of Christ has nothing to do with just the events of the future, but the events which took place with His death, resurrection and the release of the Holy Ghost. The question is not the time of its occurrence but the assurance of its occurrence. Therefore with the work accomplished by Jesus at His manifestation in the flesh, the eschatological period has been inaugurated. The Lamb slain has certainly laid claim to the title, to be the Lord of history and this is the lesson of Rev.5:5. Eventually, it can be seen that most modern preachers do not understand what eschatology is all about.  

THE APPLICATION OF THE WORD DAY

            In the same vein, as we shall be considering such statements as `the last days' etc, it is important to note that, Biblically, the word `Day' is commonly used in a general sense, for a definite period of time, - an era or season - when something unique and very remarkable has taken place or is destined to do so. E.g. "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created IN THE DAY that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens' Gen.2:4. So you see, the entire period, whatsoever it is, that God used in the creation is a day. Compare Isa.22:5, Joel 2:2 etc. May the Lord open our understanding as we proceed Amen.

To be continued

OGAGA O. DAVID

 

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